The sweet side of MSG

July 20, 2023 by
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There once existed a more formal divide between the sweet and savory sides of the kitchen, but over time the lines between them were blurred. Techniques and ingredients started crossing from one side to the other in both directions. A recent Epicurious article brings this concept home, as Anikah Shaokat makes the argument that MSG belongs in sweet foods just… read more

Will the Instant Pot end up in the graveyard of kitchen fads?

July 19, 2023 by
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Air fryers are the kitchen gadget du jour, and the poor Instant Pot, which recently dominated Amazon Prime Day, is now relegated to second class status. Both appliances promise to tremendously streamline your cooking and reduce the amount of time and effort involved in meal prep, plus make it easier to eat a healthy diet. Claims like these are not… read more

Have your cake and read it too

July 18, 2023 by
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Even though I'm not a huge fan of romance novels, I must admit that they can be just the thing to throw in your bag when you head to the beach or other vacation destination where you will have plenty of relaxation time. They are fast paced, the best ones have some unexpected twists and turns, but everything always turns… read more

Food news antipasto

July 16, 2023 by
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We start out this week's recap of culinary happenings with sad news of two deaths in the cookbook community. Acclaimed British writer Colin Spencer has passed away at the age of 90. Grub Street Publishing (UK - not related to the US Grub Street website) posted a remembrance about him yesterday. Spencer wrote numerous cookbooks and food-related titles including British… read more

Comfort food is great, but have you tried comforting food?

July 16, 2023 by
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Since the start of the pandemic, comfort foods have reigned supreme. In times of stress, people turn to the foods that made them feel good, whether it is a throwback dish that reminds them of home or something with a lot of fat, carbs, sugar, or all three. While eating carbohydrate-rich and fat-laden dishes is satisfying, I think there is… read more

Celebrate French food on Bastille Day

July 13, 2023 by
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I'm not French, but since nearly all of my great-great-great grandparents lived within spitting distance of the Rhine I say "close enough" for celebrating Bastille Day by eating French foods and drinking a French 75. Even if your ancestors are not French or French adjacent, holidays from other countries or traditions offer a great way to break out of a… read more

Top Chef announces new host and location

July 12, 2023 by
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Following Padma Lakshmi's departure after Season 20 of the Bravo TV show Top Chef, fans of the series were wondering who the producers would tap as a replacement for Lakshmi. Now we know that beginning with Season 21, the new host joining Gail Simmons and head judge Tom Colicchio will be former Top Chef winner Kristin Kish. Kish has maintained… read more

Nigella Lawson addresses the ‘girl dinner’ trend

July 11, 2023 by
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TikTok user Olivia Maher has been credited with coining the phrase 'girl dinner' after posting a video that described how medieval peasants ate, describing it as being terrible because they had nothing to eat but bread, cheese, and perhaps a few vegetables. However, Maher went on to say it was her “ideal meal” before panning to a plate containing of… read more

Food news antipasto

July 9, 2023 by
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Fans of the Hulu series The Bear may have noticed that fictional chef Carmy Berzatto has a cookbook collection at the new restaurant he opens in Season 2. Kat Kinsman and Chandra Ram did some sleuthing - including taking screenshots and enlarging them, CSI-style - and put together a list of the books Carmy has displayed. They are what you would… read more

Cookbook author Marlena Spieler dies at age 74

July 7, 2023 by
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We learned the sad news late yesterday evening that prolific cookbook author Marlena Spieler has died at the age of 74. She is the author of over 70 cookbooks published worldwide, including Grilled Cheese and Macaroni & Cheese, and has written for Bon Appétit, Saveur, The San Francisco Chronicle, and other publications. Marlena was also a three-time James Beard nominee… read more

Getting up to speed on modern restaurant lingo

July 6, 2023 by
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The food world is never stagnant, and new creations happen at a rapid pace. Just a tick over ten years ago there was no such thing as a Cronut, seven years ago the Impossible Burger didn’t exist, six years ago ruby chocolate was born, and the list goes on. It’s difficult to keep up with food trends and new food… read more

Where does the ketchup go?

July 6, 2023 by
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Some food disputes seem eternal: is a hot dog a sandwich, should chili have beans in it, are brownie centers better than brownie edges, and is cake superior to pie. Another one, and the subject of today's discussion, whether ketchup should be stored in the refrigerator. The answer to that question depends on who you ask. The UK branch of… read more

Fireworks in the kitchen

July 5, 2023 by
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My neighborhood was full of the pops, booms, and crackles of fireworks tonight as people celebrated the 4th of July holiday. I only heard them distantly because I was scurrying about in the kitchen. Whenever I have a day off, I almost always plan a huge cooking or baking spree. Today was Cook's Illustrated Strawberry cream cake, plus Greg’s scrunchy… read more

Food news antipasto

July 2, 2023 by
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Cookbook author, food writer and longtime EYB collaborator, Roberta Muir, runs online cooking classes featuring a new cuisine each month. She packages detailed written recipes and step-by-step videos in a glossy eMagazine with lots of extra food, wine and travel info relevant to the month’s cuisine. There are also pescatarian-friendly variations for all meat and poultry dishes. All 26 of Roberta’s existing… read more

How to avoid grilling mistakes

June 30, 2023 by
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The 4th of July holiday in the US features fireworks, parades, picnics, and backyard grilling and barbecuing. Judging from the out-of-office replies I am receiving, plenty of Americans are making this weekend and upcoming holiday an extended time off. For some it might be the first time they've grilled out in a long time and for a few could be… read more

When you can’t find a copycat

June 29, 2023 by
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Have you ever eaten something at a restaurant that compelled you to ask the chef for the recipe or sought it out on the internet after you returned home? This has happened to me on two occasions. The first time, the chef gladly gave me the (restaurant-sized) recipe for a fabulous pumpkin soup, so no sleuthing was required. The second… read more

To preheat or not to preheat, that is the question

June 27, 2023 by
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oven dial
Almost any baking recipe, savory or sweet, begins with instructions to preheat the oven. It's second nature for most cooks to turn on the oven before gathering ingredients or preparing baking pans. But is it really necessary to preheat? There's one school of thought that says it wastes time and electricity (or gas), and another that says you need to… read more

Food news antipasto

June 25, 2023 by
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Consumers are one step closer to getting lab-grown meat, as US regulators approved two California companies to make chicken from cultivated cells. Upside Foods and Good Meat were both vying to be the first company to get the go-ahead for lab-grown meat products. “Instead of all of that land and all of that water that’s used to feed all of… read more

Iconic dishes, legendary restaurants

June 24, 2023 by
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As a few readers noted in our post about the World's 50 Best Restaurants, the rankings reflect the views of the sponsor company as much as they do the judgment of experts. Well, I have another curated list for you, but this one is different. It's a list of the 150 most legendary restaurants and each one's iconic dish. You… read more

Get the most from your oven

June 22, 2023 by
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If you are like me, there is no room in your kitchen for another countertop appliance. While air fryers, Instant Pots, food dehydrators, and other devices have benefits, they demand too much space in my small kitchen to be practical. Despite this limitation, I do not feel bereft when I read all of the 'air fryer' recipes because I have… read more

World’s 50 Best Restaurants

June 21, 2023 by
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The annual ranking of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants was announced yesterday. As usual, European restaurants dominated the list, although the number one restaurant, Central, is located in Peru and there is again increased worldwide representation. Only two US restaurants - Le Bernardin and Atomix, both in New York City - landed in the top 50. Many chefs on the list… read more

The intersection of food and disability

June 20, 2023 by
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Disability advocates have long sought to bring visibility to the challenges faced by people who have physical or mental disabilities, highlighting these difficulties while simultaneously amplifying the accomplishments and contributions of disabled people. Culinary culture is catching up in this space, with increasing numbers of bloggers and food writers publishing cooking advice for people who face physical or mental limitations.… read more

Food news antipasto

June 18, 2023 by
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Every chef has their own 'secret' ingredient, the one that they turn to time and again to add pizzazz to their dishes. For Mauritian chef Chaya Maya, that ingredient is tamarind. She adds it to soups and stews near the end of cooking, as a marinade for meats, and in desserts. Like other Maruritians, she even eats it straight out… read more

Forget farm to table – Netflix offers film to table

June 17, 2023 by
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Watching cooking shows is both entertaining and frustrating because there is no way to taste the creation of the chefs or contestants. We are forced to use our imaginations or recreate the dish at home if a recipe is provided. Fans of cooking shows in Los Angeles, however, will get a little something extra at the end of the month,… read more

Father’s Day recipe ideas

June 17, 2023 by
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Tomorrow is Father's Day in the US, UK, and Canada, part of a three-day weekend in the US with the Juneteenth holiday falling on Monday. For many families that means the perfect excuse to do outdoor cooking, meat on the grill, and picnic fare. If you plan on making something special but are out of ideas, head over to Delish to… read more
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